The Yondershire is the new north-western hobbit-region added to The Shire in April 2022 (update 33). In fact it is the same area as The Shire, and you can see this clearly when you make use of the stables for travelling within The Shire. Access to the quests requires the Yondershire quest pack, but is free for players with a VIP account. Quests in the Yondershire are mainly intended for toons of level 20 - 24. You can also start at level 18 or 19, but at these levels most of the quests will be red.
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| The Yondershire area (the red dotted line is the boundary between The Shire) |
Lore of the Yondershire
The Hobbits from Bree got official permission from the high king of Fornost (Argeleb II) in T.A. 1601 to settle the land between the Brandywhine River and the Far Downs. The total area was about 21,400 square miles and was divided into four subregions of the Shire: the four farthings. There were cooler and drier fields in the Northfarthing; downlands in the Westfarthing; sheltered coplands in the Southfarthing and the mixed lands in the Eastfarthing - consisting of woods, marshes, croplands and quarries. A little east of Bywater there is an official 'three-areas point', where the three borders of the West-, East and Southfarthing come together into one single point. On this special location, the Hobbits have erected the Three Farthing Stone. This landmark can be seen at 32.2S, 69.6W near Bywater, near Tom Cotton's farm. The location and a scenic view of this landmark is presented below.
The Hobbits from Bree got official permission from the high king of Fornost (Argeleb II) in T.A. 1601 to settle the land between the Brandywhine River and the Far Downs. The total area was about 21,400 square miles and was divided into four subregions of the Shire: the four farthings. There were cooler and drier fields in the Northfarthing; downlands in the Westfarthing; sheltered coplands in the Southfarthing and the mixed lands in the Eastfarthing - consisting of woods, marshes, croplands and quarries. A little east of Bywater there is an official 'three-areas point', where the three borders of the West-, East and Southfarthing come together into one single point. On this special location, the Hobbits have erected the Three Farthing Stone. This landmark can be seen at 32.2S, 69.6W near Bywater, near Tom Cotton's farm. The location and a scenic view of this landmark is presented below.
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| Location of the Three Farthing Stone in The Shire |
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| The Three Farthing Stone as seen from Tom Cotton's Farm |
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| Enjoying a close view of the Three Farthing Stone |
Later in history, the Eastmarch (Buckland) and the Westmarch were added to the Shire. The Eastmarch was occupied in T.A. 2340, almost 700 years before the War of the Rings. The Westmarch was granted by Aragorn, 32 years after the end of the War of the Rings.
By playing Lord of the Rings Online, the Eastmarch is the area east of Combe and Staddle. The Westmarch is situated east of Gamwich and Tighfield, and only a small part is accessable in the game. South of Foxden Heath and the Shire Homesteads - near Michel Delving - lies the Southfarthing. Since the start of LOTRO in 2007, this particular area of the Shire is still inaccessible. In the map below you see the boundaries of the Northfarthing and the Westfarthing.
In the Tolkien's books, and especially in 'The History of Middle Earth' by Christopher Tolkien, there is no mention of the Yondershire. So, this area should be interpreted as the lands, ruins and settlements 'beyond' the Hill, west of Bilbo Balings home. If you look at J.R.R. Tolkien's maps, and especially at the maps in the Atlas of Middle Earth by Karen Wynn Fonsted & Christophor Tolkien, you will see that the Yondershire contains both the Northfarthing and the Westfarthing. A correct picture of the boundaries of these farthings in the LOTRO game can be seen below:
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| Farthing boundaries within the Yondershire |
As you can seen in the map, the Westfarthing contains not only the Yondershire area, but also a small partion of LOTRO's 'The Shire' area, e.g. Needlehole, Little Delving and even Michel Delving.
Traveling to the Yondershire
If you are in the Shire, and you have never visit the Yondershire, you can enter this area by following the road westwards from Needlehole. Just pass through the Rushock Gate and you will enter the Yondershire.
If you are in the little settlement of Little Delving, you can enter the Yondershire by following the road in north-western direction. You will soon enter the Yondershire and arrive at the settlement of Foxden Road. If you want to travel through the wilds, you go to Rushock Bog. Go to the centre of this boggy place ant travel in a western direction: you will soon enter the wilds of Yondershire, east of the Foxden Road settlement. Another option, it travelling from Ered Luin. Go to Duillond, cross the high bridge across the river and go in eastern direction. Affter a while you will soon enter the Yondershire, but it will take a whilte before you will reach the first settlement: Tighfield.
If you have already visited one of the stables, the most convenient way to travel to the Yondershire, is by hiring a horse at a stable from Michel Delving in the Shire. Just choose one of the stable destinations in the Yondershire, like Nobottle, Tighfield, Foxden Road or Gamwich.
Starting the questline for the Yondershire
As soon as your adventurer reaches level 19 or 20, you start with the first quest 'To Yondershire' in Needlehole. in the northwest part of The Shire. Travel to Needlehole, pass the hedge gate and find Bounder Chubb to pick up the first Yondershire-quest. Bounder Chubb will ask you to pay a visit to the dwellings of Nobottle and Tighfield in the Yondershire.
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| Bounder Chubb in Needlehole |
After you got the quest from Bounder Chubb, follow the road westwards, cross two bridges, and after passing the Rushock Gate, you will find Bingo Boffin along the road. Bingo will give you the second Yondershire quest, 'A visit to Yondershire', which directs you to Tighfield. Pass the stone gate after Bingo and turn left, e.g. westwards and your adventures in the Yondershire (aka the North- and Westfarthing) will begin!
Below is a graphic report of my travel to the Yondershire, picking up quests from Bounder Chubb and Bingo Boffin. I came from the road northy of Rushock Bog and arrived at the little settlement of Needlehole. Directly after passing the Hedge Gate, I found Bounder Chubb.
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| Location of Bounder Chubb in Needlehole |
After I got the quest, I travelled westward, following road which is directly adjacent to the river. First I had to cross a high stone bridge, and after a while I crossed another and lower stone bridge. I finally arrived at Rushock Gate, which is also a Hedge gate.
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| From Needlehole to Rushock Gate |
At Rushock Gate, I saw Bounder Dogberry, who waved me goodbye after passing the gate and entering the Yondershire.
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| Bounder Dogberry at Rushock Gate |
After passing the Rushock Gate, I saw another gate, made from stone. A friendly hobbit in a green jacket was standing near the road. It was Bingo Boffin, who gave me a quest to visit hobbits in the settlement of Tighfield.
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| Bingo Boffin and the stone gate to the Yondershire |